GI Joe
So, here's the thing, back in 1982 I got Rock & Roll, my first Joe action figure (the Montgomery Wards - really - was sold out of Snake Eyes...duh). It started a 'thing' where I watched the cartoon, owned (and still own) several of the figures, and read (and still have a few of) the comic. In a nutshell, I grew up messing about with these things.
So when I heard 'GI Joe movie - no, really', I was stoked. So what if Ripcord was suddenly black, that didn't change squat. I was still stoked, more so when they dropped Ray Park's name for Snake Eyes. That was too cool. I liked the team lineup - Duke, Heavy Duty, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Ripcord, Breaker. Yes, I was hoping for Stalker, Flint and some others, but this was a solid team. I defended the inclusion of Marlon Waynans - just because his movies often suck / bomb does not always mean HE sucks (The ill-fated Dungeons and Dragons movie, for example). So all was well. Heck, they even got Dr. Who to play Destro!
The trailers were great! Hyperkenetic, a flash of Snake-Eyes on Storm Shadow action, the Baroness...yes, this was good. And with a subtitle like 'Rise of Cobra', it excused the lack of a Cobra Commander. So I was all good to go, and headed to the early show to catch the live action vision of a big part of my ill-spent youth.
And, like I said for Speed Racer, it is composed of equal parts awesome and fail. The awesome is the movie itself. Like the trailer, it is a hyperkenetic rush of action, comedy and revenge all mixed up in a tasty blend of cool. The action is excellent (there is a bit too much shaky-cam crap for me, but over all, I think I get why, and in those scenes - with one exception - it does make sense), the comedy is tight and real feeling (the kind of stuff I can imagine real people joking about in tense moments). The acting is about what you might expect, but by no means BAD. The effects are solid, and the plot is also about what you would expect - enough to drive action, little more.
But it is not, to me, GI Joe. Not a one of the characters - save Destro, Zartan and Hawk - is close to right. Here is my gripe list:
BUT, as I write this, there is some stuff that needs to be mentioned:
So, in closing (finally!), I would see it, not expect the GI Joe of your youth, but it is a good, fun movie.
So when I heard 'GI Joe movie - no, really', I was stoked. So what if Ripcord was suddenly black, that didn't change squat. I was still stoked, more so when they dropped Ray Park's name for Snake Eyes. That was too cool. I liked the team lineup - Duke, Heavy Duty, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Ripcord, Breaker. Yes, I was hoping for Stalker, Flint and some others, but this was a solid team. I defended the inclusion of Marlon Waynans - just because his movies often suck / bomb does not always mean HE sucks (The ill-fated Dungeons and Dragons movie, for example). So all was well. Heck, they even got Dr. Who to play Destro!
The trailers were great! Hyperkenetic, a flash of Snake-Eyes on Storm Shadow action, the Baroness...yes, this was good. And with a subtitle like 'Rise of Cobra', it excused the lack of a Cobra Commander. So I was all good to go, and headed to the early show to catch the live action vision of a big part of my ill-spent youth.
And, like I said for Speed Racer, it is composed of equal parts awesome and fail. The awesome is the movie itself. Like the trailer, it is a hyperkenetic rush of action, comedy and revenge all mixed up in a tasty blend of cool. The action is excellent (there is a bit too much shaky-cam crap for me, but over all, I think I get why, and in those scenes - with one exception - it does make sense), the comedy is tight and real feeling (the kind of stuff I can imagine real people joking about in tense moments). The acting is about what you might expect, but by no means BAD. The effects are solid, and the plot is also about what you would expect - enough to drive action, little more.
But it is not, to me, GI Joe. Not a one of the characters - save Destro, Zartan and Hawk - is close to right. Here is my gripe list:
- Duke has always been First Sergent, now he is randomly a Captain - minor, but why?
- The origin for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow is so far off base, it hurt to watch. They DID get everyone blaming Shadow for killing the Hard Master right, but that's it.
- Unlike every source, in this Snake Eyes took a vow of silence, and may not, in fact, be disfigured (minor bitch - the lips on the mask...WHY???)
- Scarlett is Snake Eyes' girl, no kissing the Ripcord!
- Brenden Fraiser has an uncredited cameo as a Sergent who looks a LOT like Lt. Flint (another unneeded rank change)...and he indicated in an interview the character is intended to be descended from Rick 'Mummy' O'Connell...
- GI Joe has always been an American team - now it seems American funded and run, but is not, in fact, American. Sorry, that alone is enough to cause me to be down on the thing.
- Cover Girl is an unnamed (until the credits!) secretary? Huh?
- Not a single iconic vehicle - NONE! That hurt guys. And no, the USS Flagg does not count - only a total dork like me would remember that the Flagg is CV-99.
- They goofed up Destro's name - it's James McCullen Destro XXIV. Not James McCullen. Again, minor, but why?
- The Baroness is now an American - and Duke's ex-fiance to boot? AND her brother is Cobra Commander? Wow.
BUT, as I write this, there is some stuff that needs to be mentioned:
- Subtle references - calling Duke a real American hero...mentioning someone has a real Kung-Fu grip...these make a movie fun!
- No Serpentor!
- I do like the Pit...location is even good.
- Zartan - risky, but VERY well done!
- Dr. Mindbender? Really? How cool. Especially when played by Kevin J. O'Connor - who directed the Mummy films.
- Breaker swiping a piece of gum, and blowing a bubble - total comics homage.
- The fact that despite messing up the Snake Eyes - Storm Shadow relationship, they did have the death of the Hard Master spot on.
- A rumored Larry Hama cameo.
- Destro is just good in this! So is Hawk. Well done.
So, in closing (finally!), I would see it, not expect the GI Joe of your youth, but it is a good, fun movie.